9K Mile S/C Update... a few issues with cold weather seepage
I'd like to give a quick update on my S/C. Just turned over 9K miles recently and I still have zero regrets.
Some of you have PM'd me as well as posting if I have had any issues since my previous two posts.
Not going to give a detailed review because nothing has changed from my previous post #1.
The issue I seem to have is cold weather seepage of coolant for the S/C intercooler.
My initial install was in September and during the initial week of having my S/C I monitored the coolant reservoir on a daily basis. This caused me a lot of grief on my 2011 Tacoma S/C and this is basically the same kit (at least for the reservoir). I only noticed seepage when the weather became very cold. My worm clamps on the reservoir tank let a small drip from both top and bottom ports. I was able to tighten the top port to stop that leak, but the bottom port required using two worm clamps (and a heat gun to warm the hose and tank up...see post #1 for more info on this). The tank is some type of plastic so you have to be careful not to over tighten and crush/crack the plastic ports. That would suck... Cause this is not a part you can simply pick up at the local dealership.
When the polar vortex hit the NE I began to see more seepage on the spring clamps connecting the hose to the front top passenger side intercooler port as well as the spring clamp connecting to the electric pump driver side. See pics.
Maybe I got some cheap spring clamps in this kit (I'm planning to give this update to Magnuson...maybe they will switch over to a constant torque worm clamp). My truck does sit outside and would be affected by the cold temps more so than when I had my garaged Tacoma with the S/C. Never had leaks on that truck (besides the reservoir).
I did research on worm clamps. Surprising how much data/videos/forum posts regarding...worm clamps are out there if you are willing to hunt a bit.
Reading reviews and posts I learned of the "constant torque worm clamp" from some diesel trucking forum. I also learned of the different quality of clamps...rounded edges verses sharp...cheap ones and how to spot them...Ya. There is a lot of info out there
Breeze is the manufacturer of the constant-torque stainless steel hose clamp. Amazon link to what I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SD02VM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
From my reading, truckers use this on their rigs to stop cold weather seepage from the materials being affected by swings in temperature. That's what I've been experiencing on my 4R. So...a few days after ordering the clamps and finally a day in the upper 60's I swapped out my clamps on the coolant reservoir and the spring clamp where I was seeing seepage on the front top passenger side intercooler port.
You can see in the pic the worm clamps from the Magnuson kit made some impressions on the hose after I had to tighten them down to stop the leaks. The Breeze clamps are smooth covering the hose. The weight of the clamp is about 10x that of the worm clamp from the kit. The spring on the screw provides a constant torque...thus the name of the clamp.
Since installing the Breeze clamps I have zero seepage. I have yet to do the clamp on the pump. I plan on doing a bumper swap and will tackle that clamp when I remove the bumper. The amount of seepage on that port is very minimal....but there should be zero leaks.
Knowing what I know now...and if I ever do this again to the wife's 4R... I would swap out all the spring clamps in favor of the Breeze constant torque clamps. The cost via amazon for a pack of 10 is about $30. IMO...well worth it.
